511 



(Gm.), a view which I cannot at all indorse. I have again most carefully examined Gmelin's 

 figure and description, and am more than ever satisfied that it refers to the immature Imperial 

 Eagle, and not to the present species ; and this view is evidently that taken by the Russian 

 authors, who have generally confused the present species with the Spotted Eagle, and not with 

 the Imperial Eagle ; indeed the specimens which afterwards became the types of Cabanis's 

 Aquila orientalis were sent to Berlin by Professor Eversmann (who certainly would be as likely 

 as any one to know what Gmelin's F. mogihiiJc was) as varieties of the Spotted Eagle. Besides, 

 I find from reference to Kessler and other Russian authors that the Russian name for the 

 Imperial Eagle is Mogilnik ; and this is an additional proof of what the species was to which 

 Gmelin gave that name, evidently taken from its common Russian appellation. Besides, if 

 Gmelin's description is so imperfect that it can be referred to two distinct species, it should 

 have been thrown aside altogether, and the next one, about which there could be no doubt, 

 adopted. Dr. Gray's name of Aquila bifasciata cannot be used, as it is preoccupied, having been 

 made use of by C. L. Brehm in 1831 for the common Spotted Eagle. Therefore Hodgson's name 

 of Aquila nipalensis will be the correct one to use for this bird, his description and figure being 

 perfectly explicit and clear. 



The specimens figured are an old female and a young bird, both from the Volga — these 

 being the specimens described, and in my collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, d ad,, b, $ ad. Volga, May (H. F. Moschler). c,juv. Volga, July 31st (Moschler). d, e,f,juv. Southern 

 Russia (Dr. J. Cabanis). 



E Mus. Berol. 

 a, d , b,2 , c, d,juv. Sarepta (Mosclder). e, d,f, ?• Southern Russia, types of Aquila orientalis (Eversmann). 



E Mus. Brunsv. 

 a, b, c, d ■ Volga. d } e. Southern Russia. 



E Mus. J. H. Gurnet/. 



a, d . Loyah, India, January 26th. b, 2 . Loyah, February 16th. c, 2 . Loyah, February 26th. d, d . Nub- 

 begunge, India, December 4th (W. E. Brooks). 



E Mus. H. J. Elwes. 

 a, d ad. Bosphorus, March 4th (Alleon). 



E Mus. Howard Saunders. 



a, d , b, J . Shot from nest with three eggs, c, d , d, 2 ■ Also shot from nest with three eggs, both pairs from 

 the Volga, May 1870 (H. F. M.) . 



